Respect

[sceptic]

He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling fast,

As he sat in the Legion hall telling stories of the past,

Of a war that he had fought in, and the deeds that he had done.

In his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, every one.

 

Tho' sometimes to his neighbours his tales became a joke,

All his soldier mates they listened, for they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer - for a soldier died today.

 

He'll not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived a very ordinary, quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

 

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in State

While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life story from the time that they were young,

But the passing of the soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

 

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

A man who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife

Goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?

 

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives

Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives;

while the ordinary soldier who offers up his all,

Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension, small.

 

It's so easy to forget them for it was long ago

that the "Old Bills" of our country went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

 

Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,

Would you want a politician, with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend

His home his kin and country, and would fight until the end?

 

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us, we may need his like again,

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldiers' part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

 

If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say:

"Our country is in mourning - for a soldier died today".

 

[Lawrence Vaincourt]

[luke warm]

or, if you're in certain parts of california, just keep the military out... that way you don't have to think about it (until, that is, you need them)

[Al_U_Card]

We can never imagine the horror nor the fear nor the revulsion that anyone exposed to the situation experienced. Torture? Being rent limb from limb? Seeing friends and foe alike torn from their secure lives and pitted against you in a life and death struggle whereas otherwise you might have a drink together and get to know and like each other in different circumstances.

 

I hope never to have to live through such. The admiration that I feel for those who have is hard to express in words. It transcends any action that we might make towards these unfortunate but brave individuals as we would never be able to remove the memories that they must bear forever.

 

 

A Word’s Worth

 

 

We know this word,

and what it means;

this riddle is,

just what it seems.

 

 

It can be given, but not taken;

without it, choice, must be forsaken.

 

It can be owed, but not borrowed;

those who have it, are soon followed.

 

It can be valued, but never bought;

and for its lack, we’ve often fought.

 

It can be shown, but not perused;

and when misplaced, it is abused.

 

And just like love, from the same source;

This word we know, it is, of course,

 

 

 

 

RESPECT